Chang’e-3 landed in the northern part of the Sea of Rains, or Mare Imbrium, slightly east of its planned touchdown spot in the Bay of Rainbows, or Sinus Iridum.

A little more than seven hours after landing, the lander’s rover Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, rolled onto the moon’s surface. The rover will study the moon's minerals and also carries telescopes and cameras to observe astronomical objects farther out in space.